A Eurostar train in the platforms at St Pancras International, the London terminus for direct trains from Amsterdam.
Photo: Oxyman / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0)Amsterdam to London by Train
An international route between Netherlands and United Kingdom.
Reviewed by Eurotraintrip on 2026-07-30
- Duration
- 3h 52m – 4h 19m
- Price from
- 44 EUR
- Distance
- 585 km
- Operators
- Eurostar
- Frequency
- Five direct daily departures each way since the December 2025 timetable change, up from three weekday/Sunday round trips (two on Saturdays) when the rebuilt Amsterdam terminal reopened direct service in February 2025
Compare and book Amsterdam–London tickets
Check pricesWhat makes Amsterdam to London different
- The direct Amsterdam-London service runs from a purpose-built UK Terminal that opened in Amsterdam Centraal's Amstel Passage on 10 February 2025, replacing the smaller temporary facility used since 2020.
- Because the original Amsterdam Centraal setup could only clear passengers for around 275 seats per train, Eurostar had to ration how many people could book the Amsterdam-London direction; the new terminal raised that to about 400 passengers per train in early 2025, then 600 from April 2025, reaching full capacity of roughly 650 by the end of 2025.
- Frequency on this exact direction only reached today's five-trains-a-day level in the December 2025 timetable - for most of 2025 there were just three weekday/Sunday round trips and two on Saturdays.
Amsterdam station
Departs from the dedicated UK Terminal inside Amsterdam Centraal, entered via the Amstel Passage on the Stationsplein side - about a 3-minute walk from the main station entrance - rather than through the general NS departure halls.
London station
Arrives directly onto the domestic side of St Pancras International, since UK entry checks all happen before boarding in Amsterdam rather than on arrival - unlike a Eurostar journey from Paris or Brussels, you walk straight off the platform into the station concourse.
Train vs. other options
Driving is the impractical option here: there's no bridge or tunnel a car can use without a Channel crossing, so a self-drive trip means booking a separate Eurotunnel Le Shuttle crossing or a ferry, then covering roughly 550km through Belgium and France - in practice a 6-7 hour trip door to door. Flying (KLM or British Airways, about 1h15-1h30 in the air) can beat the train on pure flight time, but Amsterdam Centraal is in the city center while Schiphol and Heathrow both need a 20-45 minute transfer on top of check-in.
Booking tips
- Book as early as your dates allow - Eurostar typically opens sales for this route 3-6 months ahead, and the cheapest Standard fares climb quickly as each direct departure fills.
- If you don't have a UK or Irish passport, apply for a UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) at least a few working days before travel - Eurostar checks for it at Amsterdam check-in and will deny boarding without one, so it isn't something to sort out at the station.
- Arrive at the UK Terminal in Amsterdam Centraal's Amstel Passage with time to spare - Eurostar recommends at least 45 minutes before departure for the combined security, Dutch exit and UK border process.
Good to know: Since 25 February 2026, most non-UK/Irish passengers need an approved UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) to board at all - a GBP16, two-year digital permit that Eurostar staff check alongside the existing EU Entry/Exit System biometric registration and Dutch/UK passport checks at Amsterdam Centraal.
While you're in London
Tower Bridge over the Thames, completed in 1894.
Photo: Rafa Esteve / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0)London's major sights increasingly run on timed-entry booking — the Tower of London's Crown Jewels and the British Museum's blockbuster 2026 Bayeux Tapestry exhibition both reward planning ahead — while the Tube's zone-based contactless fares make getting around simple once you're there.
Full London travel guide →Frequently asked questions
Is there now a direct Eurostar from Amsterdam to London?
Yes - since the new UK Terminal opened at Amsterdam Centraal in February 2025, Eurostar runs direct trains both ways without changing at Brussels, and frequency increased to five direct departures a day each way from the December 2025 timetable.
Do I need a UK ETA to travel from Amsterdam to London?
Most non-UK/Irish passengers do, as of 25 February 2026 - a separate GBP16 digital travel authorisation, checked by Eurostar at Amsterdam check-in alongside the EU's Entry/Exit System biometric registration.
How long does the direct train from Amsterdam to London take?
Around 3 hours 52 minutes to 4 hours 19 minutes city-centre to city-centre, depending on the specific train's calling pattern via Rotterdam and Brussels-Midi.